Crocheted (amigurumi) items for outdoors?

Hi everyone!

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Steph from patternsbysteph. :)
I’ve been with CrazyPatterns since mid-June. However, I haven’t really been active on the forum so far—I usually just don’t have the time.

But now I’ve started an experiment and wanted to ask if any of you have had experience with this.

I’ve placed three of my crocheted flowers outside.
They’re under a very light shelter, but if it rains and there’s a light breeze, they’re guaranteed to get wet. They’re fully exposed to the sun from morning until early afternoon.

Here’s a photo:
[Image removed]

They’re made of 100% cotton yarn and filled with synthetic stuffing. So everything’s just like how I make my other amigurumi.

I wonder if the yarn will fade? Will the stuffing start to break down eventually? Or even the whole flower? Will bugs nest inside them? 0.o

Has anyone here tried this before? I’d really love to know. The flowers have only been outside for a few days. So if I hear any really terrible stories, I could quickly bring them back inside. :)

Best regards
- Steph :)

Hi. Yes, they do fade. But it can take 1–2 years before it’s really noticeable. Constant rain will also make them look quite unattractive over time. So find a more sheltered spot or bring them inside.

Alternatively, put them in a glass case. Or in a kind of sunroom. Or a greenhouse. 

Thanks for the reply, berlidesign! :)

1–2 years... well, that’s fine then. I don’t leave the same decorations out that long anyway. I think I’ll just take that risk for now.
If there’s really heavy rain or strong winds at the same time, I’ll probably bring them inside. If I remember. :D 
 

You're welcome ... it also depends on how strong the sun is .... around here it shines very strongly ... but 1–2 years, depending on the yarn, is my experience

Hi Steph,

two years ago I “crocheted” our plant stakes using Catania cotton. They’re in the flower bed and exposed to all kinds of weather :-) The cotton faded after just one summer, but it hasn’t rotted, and even though the colors are paler, they still look pretty nice.
Synthetic stuffing shouldn’t rot either, and bugs probably prefer natural materials.

Best regards, Marion

Hi Marion,

That sounds great. Thanks so much! :-)
  It’s rained several times already, but so far everything has stayed dry. So with “normal” rain, the canopy seems to provide pretty good protection. I’ll leave the little flowers outside for now and just see what happens next. And in the fall or winter, there’ll be other decorations anyway. I don’t know yet if they’ll be crocheted, though. :-)

Best regards
—Steph :)